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Woman forced to give birth while shackled to a bed, what do you think about this?

The news team for Telemundo 52 recently reported on Alma Minerva Chacon, a women who was terrorized by Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Unfortunately, she is just the latest in a long line of Latinos who have suffered at the hands of the ruthless Sheriff whose personal goal is to rid Arizona of all "illegals" and just maybe, all Latinos. Arpaio has repeatedly stated that he is breaking no laws and just enforcing the constitution by arresting more than 600 Latinos a year. But the problem with his tactics is that less than half of those arrested are even in this country illegally.

The most recent atrocity committed by the self-proclaimed "America's Toughest Sheriff" involves a woman who was detained while 9-months pregnant. Alma Minerva Chacon's case has been receiving media attention due to the brutality with which she was treated.

I believe that the treatment of this mother in labor was barbaric. I would not treat an animal in this fashion, much less a human being. I do understand that she had broken laws, but I believe that whatever penalties she deserved for that could certainly have been applied after the birth and post partum recovery, as is done with all American inmates. With the guards on hand and the woman in labor, escaping was not going to happen. I agree with you Sweet....people who break the law are still human beings and deserve humane treatment.

Answer by
Anonymous
at 6:34 PM on Nov. 25, 2009

The very same night of her arrest, Chacon went into labor and found herself afraid and alone, being rushed to a local hospital with her hands and legs chained in shackles.

Once she reached the hospital, nurses repeatedly begged the Sheriff's staff to allow them to unchain the mother, but they refused and Chacon was forced to give birth while still shackled to the bed. At one point, the nurse asked for them to release her so that she could be escorted to the bathroom for a urinalysis, but even that request was denied. But the worst came once Chacon gave birth to her baby girl.

Still chained to the bed, Arpaio's police staff refused to allow Chacon to hold her newborn baby and then warned her that if no one came to pick up the child within 72 hours, she would be turned over into state custody. Telemundo 52 sat down with Chacon and let her tell her side of the story.

While its a horrible way to treat someone, she shouldn't have been trying to get into this country illegally, it is shows that it was because she was preggo and wanted her child to be born here. Hopefully they send her butt back with the child to whereever she came from.

If you don't want to be treated like a criminal during childbirth, you should try not to commit a crime during the 9th month...

Answer by
Anonymous
at 8:43 AM on Nov. 25, 2009

There were two warrants for her arrest. She owed more than $1,000 in fines. Don't break the law and life is pretty good.

Answer by
Anonymous
at 8:44 AM on Nov. 25, 2009

Was she proven to be illegal?

Are we foregoing humane treatment?

Where is she going? She is in the middle of giving birth

Answer by
Anonymous
at 8:44 AM on Nov. 25, 2009

Sheriff Joe Arpaio said, "I wasn't the one who kept her from holding the baby. Ask the hospital."
Sheriff's Office policy states that jail inmates be restrained for "security reasons in an unsecured facility," said Jack MacIntyre, an MCSO deputy chief. McIntyre said a 12-foot chain link was attached to ChacÃ³n's leg.